Comics

Who does not remember them? Our four favourite Renaissance named turtles are getting a big revitalization the last months, specially after the announcement of the movie. Mikey, Don, Leo and Raph are thus back with some new series, including a re-issue of the old comics in colors.

As a casual turtles fan, since I only had watched some of the TV-Series and played some of the games, it was a great deal of news. Not the movie, since it is going to be an “alien” disaster. But the comics. I recently subscribed to the comic at my local store and I got my first issue this month. It was good ol’ turtle awesomeness.

You see, the problem I always have with some comics is the art section. I know there are some great comics out there with terrible art, but it is somewhat difficult to overlook one of the main features of the sequential art. I have been reading Batman for a long while, but sometimes, even though the images look great, the story can range into the totally confusing. The Night of the Owls is one of those examples. When our favourite bat was lost in that labyrinth made by the Court of Owls, I was just lost on what the meaning of this situation was. I consider myself being a bit bad when reading philosophy, but I doubt very much this particular number of the Dark Knight had any real sense.

This experience was not reproduced in the most recent number of the monthly TMNT. After reading the classic comic again, I approached finally to the new series, towards which I had been reluctant to buy them because of the terrible art. Most of the turtles seem to be doing constantly rage faces we see in the now popular memes. Some outlines are a bit crude. But while reading the story I was totally entranced. The new enemy, that evil turtle with a (gasp!) black mask was an incredibly easy enemy to approach to, but intriguing nonetheless. The text and constant speaking between the turtles reminds us what the story is and puts the non-reader up to date. The story thus becomes pretty solid and easy to follow, and still fun, specially in the final fight of the issue.

Yes, I may not like how it looks, but it still is great fun and easy to understand. Why need psychological complications if you can have just a fun story about some weird mutants?

The innocence of childhood is something very hard to grasp for our adult abd reasonable society. Even though I often claim I am somewhat immature, I must accept for me it is a daunting task just to try to teach children a new language. For me, the mental structures, no matter how hard I claim mine are young, are totally different from the children’s to ours.

But if there is someone that really caught my eye on the topic of the mind of an infant in development, then it is Bill Watterson, a caricaturist that is recognized for his seemingly innocent Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. For someone who has not read him, this is a must. Calvin, a boy around ten years old, struggles to be part of a society while trying to live in the broad world of his fantastic delusions.

But the innocence portrayed here is not merely the typical purity we adults try to make other adults believe. The boy is smart, and his tiger counterpart Hobbes just serves to emphasize this trait. We never know if the tiger is real or just a figment of the imagination of Calvin. Even though evidence suggests all is in the mind, somehow the reader immediately feels that this explanation is way too simplistic.

The dialogues are rich and deep many of the times. How many comics do you see where the main protagonist struggles with the understanding of nature of death while making us, despite the tragic situation, smirk at how we feel in those moments?

For me Hobbes is this second part Calvin has to subdue to be part of a society we never wish to be born into. There is an inherent struggle in this clever pair, which even in the worst situation keeps a friendship. An introvert friendship in the eyes of the world, for sure, but is it maybe not the sign of a peace of mind many of us desire with ourselves?

It is difficult to explain such a master work as Calvin & Hobbes. For me, this is one of the best cartoons ever written. I prefer Garfield, but if my craving for cheap laughs would not be active, Calvin & Hobbes would be the best thing ever written.

All I can do is recommend reading this interesting Sunday comic, and just enjoying the innocence paired up with a critique to the modern human self. If you don’t like it, then all you have lost is ten minutes of your time.

Originally I was very skeptic of the change DC had made when I got my hands on the first issues of the reboot. In a previous post I clearly said that only huge fans of the universe would, maybe, notice the difference from the regular old series to the “new” one. But now, to my displeasure, there was an announcement of the #0 issues. First question: is that another reboot? After clarification I was not sure what to think. Now I know I like them.

And it is not the story I have come to like. To be honest, I think it will open a lot of plot holes, making Detective Comic’s wet dream of getting a consistent continuity impossible. But when did we see the comics as an exact representation of our reality?

What I really loved is the idea of creating a new timeline. Now, from the dangerous current events Batman is knee-deep in, to the start of his vigilante career is barely six years. This included a re-thinking and the updating of the situation of Bruce’s tragic loss. Everything looks more modern and makes now more sense. Wayne is not over 70 years old by normal world standards and the city has not changed too much from the start of his career to the moment we read the comics. This is opposed to the original creation myth of the bat, which had happened in a 30s style city, creating this strange situation in which the character had not aged at all, but the city had undergone so many vast changes.

Now, plot holes are unavoidable. First off, my criticism towards the existence of Damian stands. I don’t like him, no matter how much interesting conflict it brings in the Batman-Robin relationship. I just can’t understand why Bruce has to have a son. And now with the six-year timeline… how is it even possible that the boy is ten now?

Second, and this relates to the previous points, I can’t just imagine all the things Batman has done over the last almost-century are now to be compressed in only six years. So many happenings, so many details. Now we are led to believe he lived through them in a short time period?

Finally, the story has converted Batman into a paranoid man who thinks the death of his parents was due to an enemy of his father. Somehow DC is steering now to find the real murderer of the Dark Knight, trying to uncover a deep mystery behind all that marked the millionaire’s life. How much of this will come out, though, is not quite sure. In any case, it would not shock me to see an explanation based on some conspiracy that provoked the death of the Wayne’s. How much this will benefit the mythos, I am not quite sure. But I don’t know if the motivation will change once we now why really Thomas died, since the mindless violence was what originally drew out the persona out of young Bruce.

Don’t get me wrong here. I loved these new #0 issues. If the company would have released those before the #1s, I would have not complained about the reset at all. Now that I can see, as an amateur fan, the difference, I finally can see a new direction and the changes in the way we perceive Batman. All is left to do is to hope it gets better. Just try not to get confused with the time issue created by the reboot. I have learned that many years ago.

I think at this point of the year it would be a good idea to discuss the re-launch of the DC Universe. Let us first be honest. Although I do like Batman, that is about all the comics I read about Superheroes. Yes, I know a lot about some other series, but I was never a big time buyer; instead I always enjoyed my childhood hero: Batman.

So this little review/rant is just about the DC re-launch from number 1 from the perspective of that particular side. Second, even though I have been reading the comics for a few years now, I am, by no accounts, an expert here. What I expose here is just the view of a casual fan. To be honest, I think most fans are more like me. Although I pick up the comics from one series only, I have not followed all the stories and all the happenings neither in the DC Universe, nor in the Marvel Universe. I just enjoy what I have at my hand. I hope that I least I can share a bit about this issue, though, as a casual reader.

A year ago, I was checking up on my comics again when I heard of the idea that DC would erase the numbers on their comics and re-start them all as #1s. This made my brow raise, so I decided to follow-up on it a bit. The idea was not bad: there would be a few changes to the stories and the numbers were just reset to eliminate the harrowing feeling that you had lost years worth of knowledge. It was not a way to kill everything and begin from point zero.

The changes, back then, seemed pretty exciting, and I was ready to accept them. I already was a bit weary of some details on the stories; a fresh was a great idea to clean the slate and give the comics a fresher look. But, did DC, in my eyes, succeed in this? My answer is no.

After a year of following my childhood hero, I have discovered, to my distaste, that the changes are merely aesthetic: the number of the comic and the look of the characters. Yes, they finally took away the ridiculous over-the-pants underwear of some heroes, and the suits look pretty neat. But what has not changed was the way the stories are told, the character’s personalities and the glaring issues with the world.

Batman, in a nutshell, is all the same: the new Robin, his son Damian, is still there, and each old Robin is in its place. The villains are the same (with the inclusion of three new, interesting ones, plus one that just died). The stories are as confusing as ever, and there was, in fact, no real change at all. I remember that one of the previews treated the Caped Crusader as an outlaw. The police, in a free sample I got in my comic store, was following him, shooting at him. It was as if they did not even know who Batman was. When I beheld the full comic, it was just because of a misunderstanding that they tried to get him. Bummer.

Also the Damian/Robin situation. I know the characters of comics have to grow and all, but I feel like the new sidekick doesn’t fit well into all this. I am always a bit weary to know that the companion to the Dark Knight is, in fact, his own son now. The conflicts portrayed up to now are not bad, I just don’t feel like they are part of the Batman mythos. Maybe I should really let it go, but it always struck me as queer. I was hoping they would eliminate Damian or something similar.

Also a bit unnerving is this whole family exploration thing. When Batman “died” during the Crisis event, a would-be father was revealed, now int he new series I heard about Alfred’s father being really knee-deep stuck in some conspirational mire, Dick Grayson’s parents on a similar situation and a would-be brother of Batman. Now, I know the comics always throw such bombs in the stories to keep them interesting, but if there is something untouchable, it’s the family life of Bruce Wayne. Their death propels Batman’s strive for justice. What would happen if they gave it a twist? I can’t imagine, but I know that this will not turn out to be good, because some things, despite what some say, are better left untouched. They are the essence of the characters, after all. And tradition.

In all the “new” Batman series is as great as before. The only thing that got me down was that the changes of the series were merely based on the looks, not on the content. Maybe a hardcore fan may correct me on that, but as a casual reader, the stories still follow exactly the same line as before. I just felt that DC did that re-launch to draw in more public, that’s all. But they could have left the old numbers (ranging up to almost 900) and it would have been the same.

But do not let this make you desist on keep on reading or not to event try to read the comics. I think the stories are still developing good and there is still a lot of drama to discover and experience. I can’t wait to see the Joker’s new face! I just think that the whole thing was just a bust to get attention.

I am writing this article just after seeing The Dark Knight Rises (on Saturday), a movie which fascinated me. So yes, this a positive review on it. Usually, when I comment on something I just saw on the cinema, I always say something like: “I liked this movie, but…”. I am a very harsh critic when it comes to the moving pictures, and not few have taken ill to my comments. Usually that’s why many people think I am a negative person. In the meanwhile I refuse to comment to that. Let me just say what I think about The Dark Knight Rises: I love it, but…

So, in order to be able to give my two cents, I will move to highlight some points about the movie. The underline is still, that everyone (or at least almost) should see it. It may be not as grand as the previous part of the series, but I felt really no lack of epicness. That being said let me just say that I also have not read any critic on the movie yet, since I always try not to tarnish my few forays into the cinemas with opinions… it always turns out I expect too much or too less of something. By the way, it is also a late review, but maybe I can bring something new to think about!

So, let’s get going:

Excellent story! Period. I was at the edge of my seat the whole movie, and I could not stop staring at the screen. There were even times I wanted to stand up and just hooray at the heroes (and villains). Definitely worth the experience.

Hathaway. Although Catwoman was excellently portrayed, I am not quite a fan of the casting. It is Definitely much better than Halle Berry. But somehow there were moments I could not imagine she was Selina Kyle. Anyway, this is more a personal perk, so don’t pay too much attention to this opinion!

The inclusion of Bane’s signature move. Now, you may wonder what I mean with this, but for this you most go back a few years in the comic book history. I don’t remember the exact year, but there was a mayor event after Superman’s death and revival in which Bane actually defeated Batman… by breaking his back (obviously Bruce got better after a few months). The inclusion of this and how they put it together with the story was just brilliant. I liked the idea of the crippled millionaire who had to literally crawl out of his hole to be able to assume his role as a protector. Yes, the title predicted exactly what you would see. And it did this in a glorious manner. Believe me, just because of that I finally made my mind and I will buy the trilogy. Mind you that I never buy movies!

Uh, Batman, are you there? My biggest concern may be the fact that sometimes I had this uneasy feeling that this story could have been written under another name. In other words, was the inclusion of the Batman cast and its hero really necessary? I felt sometimes that I could have watched the movie with another set of characters and it would have been as great. I don’t exactly know how to feel about this. The whole story arc took and interesting turn with the third movie, but it felt a but not-batmanish, if you catch my drift. In other words, this whole revolution idea felt a bit odd to me. Or maybe I am just being stubborn and I am shying on how the director took a look into the world of the Caped Crusader, since it really broke a few molds. Innovation is not always a bad thing, and we saw it in Burton’s vision of Gotham City.

The obligatory sequel! Now, this one is really something I am concerned about. To be honest, the whole trilogy is great. Maybe the first movie was not as interesting as I would have liked, but the other two were great. In fact, they are so grand that I fear that a small mistake in the next movie could crash the whole effort Nolan has put into the creation of this masterpieces. We already have seen this sad turn of events in the same franchise: Batman Forever anyone? Now that we know that there is a Robin involved and that Batman is officially dead to every one in Gotham City, but will return, the whole series of movies is at that delicate point of having too many sequels and with this, that it will come to a crash because of some ideas for the story that may go wrong. If there is really a necessity of a sequel, then let us just hope that they put as much effort in that movie as in the present one. I would not mind to find finally a serious Robin sidekick in a Batman movie! Please Nolan????

Well then, I am off to catch up on some reviews I wanted to take a look at. In any case, I’ll see you next week, or maybe a bit earlier!

Well, there are some news on the interned that quite disturb be. There seems to be a new TV show coming out, called “Beware of the Batman, with an interesting take on the villians. Fist I heard of it was with Alphaomegasin, who really went, as always on a rampage on this. I can quite understand that and I do recommend to watch the video. His main point is easy: Batman is defined by his iconic villians, loke the Joker or Two-Face (my personal favourite). On the other hand, there is another interesting response with a good point coming from another viewer, a video I do recommend to see, no matter if you like his point of view or not. This one basically boils down to the idea that the villians of Batman are overdone.

As a big time fan of Batman since my childhood, I thought I’d chip in with my own point fo view. Since I like to consiliate the ideas, I thought I would do it the most civil way possible.

Yes, the villians are overdone. We have seens tons of renditions of the joker, one darker than the other. Each one has, in my point of view, and interesting take on that character, although there are other renditions of other villians, such as the penguin and other. To be honest, I never get tired of those new ways to act each character. I definetly think that Jack Nicholson’s Joker is charming, while the one from the Dark Knight is, although a bit off of what I imagine of the Joker, a totally demented and intriguing character.

If the villians are overdone, so is Batman. Come on guys, how many years do we have to listen to this caped crusader wail on his dead parents? I really think that, if one side is overdone, so is the other. In other words I can only find to options: either you do no series at all, or you just have to include the whole package!

Another point that drives my argument is that I love the idea of new characters or maybe those you never heard of. There is great potential in rediscovering some of them and giving them a greater importance than up to now. But I also want to see a new Joker and a new Two-Face! In other words, I think it is time for other villians to raise and shine, but not forgetting what is the real backbone of our mad knight!

Possible solution? Why simply not make the series around the new villians while making a few chapters with the old ones. Imagine a series like the original animated series (the best ever!) but instead of a ton of Joker chapters and only three unkonwn villian chapters, make it the other way around? In other words, the Joker would only appear in a few chapters. This will benefit the series on the following two ways: first, you will get the new faces out without forgetting the main cast and, most importantly and second, making the appearance of the Penguin even more special, since you won’t be seeng his face all the time!

I think it is very important to move away form the old characters, but you can not simply move away from them. I am really in for the idea of seeing the enemies only a hardcore comic fan like me may recognize, but I would still love to hear that dreaded laughter that will remind you the madness that fills Gotham every night while the dark knoght punches his theet out!

Well then, that’s my two cents this time, I will see you next week!

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Welcome to a blog of gaming, movies, books and some history. In here I explore the stories that have carried us over decades, yes, even centuries, to what defines us today. I hope you enjoy it and comment, I am always open to respond!
This blog is updated whenever possible, once a week.